Hedgehog in the Fog

Norshteyn, master of underrated Russian animation, has created a breathtakingly beautiful short about a cute hedgehog visiting his friend, the bear. What differs "Yozhik v tumane" from the typical American/Japanese animations is that it could be described as artistic poetry which definitely is not for everyone. You'd better not expect funny dialogues, happy songs and colorful landscapes. Quite the contrary, it is rather gray, dark and mysterious. It builds a blur atmosphere supported by a magical soundtrack. Haunting yet beautiful, it won't ever get out of your mind.

However, it still covers everything good animations are made of (and more) - it will make you smile especially because of its cuteness, but it also is lyrical, symbolistic and metaphorical. The hedgehog's adventure is about innocence, new (positive AND negative) experiences, friendship, fear, going one's own way - maybe even the subjective sense of life.

To conclude, this is a brilliant philosophical short for children, teenagers and adults equally.

Yozik v tumane seems to be one of the best cartoons ever. It's both simple and very philosophical, but I like it best because it's very lyrical.At first it all seems to consist of nothing but vague images, but what is our whole life but not wandering in the fog? There's almost no story told, but it's all there - friendship and warmth, lyricism, fears and hopes, wanderings and search for something evasive, something all of us long for and almost never get. More than that - it's full of beauty, high-strung and piercing a human heart. And beauty is something we all search for, even if do not admit it.

His name is enough for know define a special animation universe. In same measure, "Yozhik v tumane" is different. Each time when you see. Because the trip of little hedgehog remain message, characters, symbols. But all is so simple. A film about friendship and travel and initiation s magic. Sure, many explanations and definitions and opinions about art. In essence, it remains one of the greatest short animations for the inner child. A pure gem. Or a classic. The emotion and not the words defines it.

It is quite possible this will not appeal to Western audience. You cannot explain what it's about. All you have are those vague emotional harmonics, and image is too subtle, too airy and blurry, and has almost no color... I remember a guy working in a game publishing company explaining the differences in national color perception to me - Russia prefers barely saturated colors, while in the US and especially Japan it's all about contrast and max saturation. The same for emotions, and the same for the plot - the stuff which appeals to westerners is always literal and to the point, while for Russians it should always be about hints and fuzzy shadows, as no one knows what he's living for...

However, I would still advise you to try this short cartoon - you might love it...

This is the cartoon film that I love, love with all my heart. This is the little wonderful story that I adore and still watch every time it is on the TV. Why? Well, the plot is amazingly simple - a little sweet helpless hedgehog is lost in the dense fog on his was to his friend, a bear, who awaits him for a tea with jam. The hedgehog is afraid, he is overcoming his innate fear of the dark, of some imaginary evil creatures, of the unknown and the new. He is encountered by a kind dog, a hilariously nervous owl, a kind fish that helps him out of the river, and finally he is at the bear's place... But the music, the very magic, sweet, mesmerizing feeling! This is a touching little story about a kid lost in the dark alone and trying to get out of it. This is a deep philosophical story about the quest for new and unknown things... This is a grand Anthem to the Freindship, Bravery and Curiosity. I love this excellent film. It is incredible...